Re: Tsaagan mangas - new dromaeosaurid from Mongolia

[Tim Williams <twilliams_alpha@hotmail.com>]

Jamie Stearns wrote:

> I'm just as much for being "multicultural" or whatever as anyone else, but 
> I think this critter's reached the "name is too goofy for its own good" 
> point. It just seems that the traditional foundation of using Greek and 
> Latin for scientific naming is being virtually tossed out the window with 
> the new dinosaur discoveries from far-off lands. Just an observation of 
> mine that I've had for a while...

I'm inclined to disagree.  I like these non-classical names borrowed from 
the local culture.  Why should our long-dead toga-wearing friends have a 
monopoly on providing names for new genera and species?  :-)

For example, I enjoy the way many Australian taxa (living and fossil) are 
receiving Aboriginal names, like _Kakuru_,  _Yurlunggur_ and _Ningaui_.  
They beat hands-down those dusty old names like _Rhoetosaurus_, 
_Palorchestes_ and _Hypsiprymnodon_.  Turning to Mongolia, I think 
_Tsaagan_, _Khaan_, _Citipati_, _Shuvuuia_ &c are all terrific monikers.  
Nothing against _Velociraptor_ and _Oviraptor_ and so forth; but it's good 
to see some linguistic diversity, IMHO.

Cheers

Tim

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